You are here

Ask Us Anything

Current Topic:

Can I Get Pregnant If…

Curious if you can get pregnant if you have sex underwater? While on your period? If you jump up and down right after? The answer is usually: YES (if you're having unprotected sex then it's definitely yes...it it's protected, you're a bit safer but there are still risks). Check out this week's Ask Us Anything where we answer all your best "Can I Get Pregnant If..." questions!

I only plan on having sex once before I marry. If she uses the patch as a backup (along with a condom), will she always have to wear it after one time? Or for only a certain time?

You are here

Current Answers

Can I get pregnant if he ejaculates outside of the vagina?

Anytime semen is near the vagina—whether it’s on your boyfriend’s hand or on your clothing—there’s a possibility it could get inside and cause a pregnancy. Sperm live longest in warm, moist environments, like a woman’s body. In fact, after ejaculation, sperm can live in the vagina for up to five days (which is why you CAN get pregnant during your period)! In contrast, sperm outside the body may only last minutes to a few hours because the semen dries out and the sperm die. Still, if you’re worried—or if your period is late—be sure to take a pregnancy test or contact a health care professional who can give you a pregnancy test. Need to find a health center? We’ve got you covered. And while you’re there, think about talking to your provider about more reliable birth control; you can get up to speed on all the options with our Birth Control Explorer.

Can I get pregnant if I miss my birth control pill one time?

Incorrect use of birth control pills is a major reason for unintended pregnancies. The pill works best if taken at the same time each day every day. Your chances for getting pregnant depend upon when you missed your pill during your cycle, the number of pills you missed in a row, and if you had unprotected sex around the same time of your missed pill. If you miss a pill, it’s important to use a backup method of birth control if you have sex (like condoms) and—if you forget your pill a lot—think about talking to a health care provider about finding a more reliable, easy-to-remember method like an IUD or implant. Need to find a health center? We’ve got you covered.

If the condom broke but I didn’t feel the sperm, could I still be pregnant?

Yes. Any time you have sex, there’s a chance that you can get pregnant. If the condom broke, even if you didn’t feel anything, sperm may have still entered the vagina. If you think you might be pregnant—or if your period is late—be sure to take a pregnancy test or contact a health care professional who can give you one. If it’s early enough after the condom broke, you might be able to use emergency contraception as a backup; emergency contraception or EC is a method of birth control that stops pregnancy from happening. It’s not meant to be used as your primary method of birth control—hence the name emergency contraception—but we all know that accidents (like the condom breaking) happen, so it's best to know about this method before you need it. Learn more about EC here.

Can you get pregnant if you have sex during your period?

Absolutely—anytime you have unprotected sex—even during your period—there’s a chance you’ll get pregnant. Once in the vagina, sperm can stay alive for several days—that means that, even if the last time you had sex was three days ago during your period, you could now be ovulating and therefore you could get pregnant. It’s kind of complicated, so just remember this: ANY time you have sex you can get pregnant, so always use protection. It’s super important to always wear a condom, and you should also use another form of birth control as well.